Grain-measurer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. HALLAHAN. GRAIN MBASURER No. 460,577. Patented Oct.6,189'1.

FIG.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. HALLAHAN.

GRAIN MEASURER.

Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IIALLAHAN, OF DUBUQUE, IOVA.

GRAlN-MEASURER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,577, datedOctober6. 1891.

Application filed January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,115. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN IIALLAHAN, a citizen of the United States,residing atDubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain -Measurers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it apperta'ins to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved grain-meter, having for itsobject the production of simple and highlyefficient means by which thegrain from a single discharge-spout of a thrashing-machine can bealternately fed to alternately-operating bins or, measures which areautomatically lowered at a predetermined weight, a record or tally beingkept of the quantity of grain so measured or weighed.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficientmeans for securing bags or sacks beneath each bin or measure.

To these ends the invention comprises the detail construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterfully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of myimproved grainmeter. Fig. 2 is a similar view, looking to the front,with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a view showing the bins or measuresand their pivoted bottoms. Fig. at is a view of the movablesupply-spout. Fig. 5 is a view of the tally. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlargeddetail views thereof. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a modified form ofsupply spout or trough.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a frame or sppport, and a asemicircular rod attached at its ends to the side of a thrasher T, andto which the said frame is secured at its lower end, so as to beadjustable from one side to the other.

a is a sustaining-rod secured at its inner end to thrasher T and at itsother end to the lower end of frame A, and c is a second rod the outerend of rod a which supports the outer end of the frame.

I3 is an approximately oblong box or casing, which is suspended by armsI) from the upper end of frame A, said box or casing being open at itsends and provided with a central vertical partition In this box orcasing are two bins or measures C O, which consist each of a pivoted orinolinable bottom 0 and two parallel boards connected at one side only,the partition 12 serving to close the open side of each bin as thelatter is being filled. Thcbottom of each binor measureishinged atitsinner end to the vertical partition b and at about its center it isprovided with a transverse rod 0 secured at its ends to the parallelside boards of each bin. Under this arrangement the bottom O is heldclosed when the bin is used for filling, but inclines outwardly at itsfree end on the descent of such bin, thus discharging the grain. To eachbin is secured a connecting-rod D which rods at their upper ends aresecured to opposite points of a disk D, which disk is centrally hung, soas to be free to revolve by a loop (Z, suspended from a weight-scale E,secured to the U-shaped bar Z). In this disk are formed two grooves orslots CZ (1 wherein is designed to fit the bent end of a stop-arm e,secured to frame A. The said grooves or slots are preferably made asshown in Fig. 8, so that the stop-arm 6 stops the movement of the diskexactly on its center.

F is an elevator-belt located or inclosed in frame A, and is providedwith a series of buckets for conveying the grain. This belt is passedaround pulleys f, and motion is imparted thereto in any preferredmanner. A

is lowered.

each bin one end of a cord f which is passed through a hole or aperturein the partition b and is brought up over the end of said partition andconnected to the spent on the same side as the bin, to which its otherend is secured. In this manner the lowering of either bin will move thespout over the otherempty bin. In lieu of this spout I may employ atrough f", having an open bottom and flaring sides, said trough beingsecured to the upper end of frame A by loosely-attached rods f From whathas been said it will be seen that as the grain is supplied to, say, thebin 0 the arm 6 is in engagement with the groove or slot d (See Fig. 2.)\Vhen said bin has received its full quota of grain, which is preferablyabout one half bushel, the scales will permit the bins to lower, andwhen the disk is released from arm 6 it will turn on its pivot, causingthe bin 0 to lower and discharge its contents at its lower end. By thetime the groove or slot (1 is coincident with arm 6 sufficient grainwill have been emptied from bin 0' to permit the elevation of the diskand cause the engagement of the arm c with said latter groove or slot.Grain is now being supplied to the outer bin 0, the discharge-spouthaving been moved thereover by the lowering of bin 0. When bin C isfull, the above operation is repeated.

In Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 7 I have shown means for registering or recordingthe operation of each bin, and in thismanner an accurate record or tallyis kept of the number of bushels or half-bushels weighed or measured.This registering mechanism consists of a series of disks II, to each ofwhich is secured a ratchet-wheel 71', having each (save the final orouter disk h) a finger or projection 7L2, which is designed to engagethe next higher wheel at each complete revolution. The disks areinclosed by a metallic frame I, having a central longitudinal slot 1'for viewing the numbers on the disks and reading the register. In thefront of box or casing B are formed parallel slots '2', through whichproject short studs 7; of one of the bins or measures, (say bin 0,) saidstuds being designed to effect the movement of the first disk 11 of theseries and cause the same to turn one point at each lowering and raisingof the bin or measure 0. The disk h will in turn cause the revolution ofthe next disk at one complete revolution, and so on throughout theseries of disks, said disk its being preferably numbered from one (1) totwenty, (20.) In this manner the exact quantity of grain measured can bereadily ascertain ed and an accurate record maintained. The stud orshaft of the disk 7L3 has loosely secured thereon the inner ends'of twobars or levers jj, with the outer ends of which the studs t" aredesigned to engage. To the stud or shaft are secured the inner ends ofupper and lower spring-arms j which at their outer free ends bear on theupper and lower edges of said bars or levers jj. To these bars or leversare movablysecured studs or pins j j,

which engage the ratchet-wheel h, and are allowed to slide upon theouter edge of the teeth by coil-springs secured thereto and to the barsor levers. As the bin lowers the bar or lever j, through its stud or pin7, moves ratchet-wheel h one point, which will move the disk It onepoint, so that one half bushel will be indicated on the outer face ofsaid disk, the pointer 71" pointing between the numbers thereon. hen thebin moves upward, the bar or leverj is raised and its stud or pin jengages and moves ratchet-wheel h the extent of one tooth. This upwardmovement serves to record the corresponding downward movement of theother bin C.

To the lower end of box or casing B, beneath each bin, are four (more orless) hooks K, upon which the bags 7.; are hung to receive the grain. Arod extends across from hook to hook upon each side over the ends of thebags thus held, and the pivoted right-angled arms 79, projecting fromand attached, one on each side of each bin, to the box or casing B, aredesigned to close said rods down over each set of hooks outside of saidbox or casing to hold the bag on said hooks by bearing on said rods.

I claim as my invention 1. In a grain-measure, the box or casing havinga central vertical partition, and two alternately-moving bins ormeasures located in said box or casing and having inner opposite opensides, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a grain-measure, the box or casing having a central verticalpartition, and two bins or measures having three sides and pivoted orinclined bottoms, the inner opposite sides of said bins or measuresbeing open, as set forth.

3. In a grain-measure, the box or easing having a central partitionprovided with a hole or aperture, the alternately-moving bins ormeasures, the pivoted feed-spout, and the cords connected to said binsor measures and passed through said hole or aperture and conneeted tosaid spout at opposite sides, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a grain-measure, the alternately-moving bins or measures, thepivoted disk having limited movements, the rods connecting said bins ormeasures to said disk, and the yielding support for said disk,substantially as set forth.

5. In a grain-measure, the alternatelyanoving bins '01 measures, thepivoted disk having two grooves or slots, the arm designed to engagetherewith, the rods connected to said bins or measures and to said disk,and the yielding scales from which said disk is suspended, substantiallyas set forth.

(3. The combination, with the box or casing having a central partition,of the bins or measures alternately moving therein, and the bottomspivotally secured to said partition and having cross-rods secured to thesides of said bins or measures, as set forth.

7 The combination, with the box or casing having slots therein, of thebin or measure having studs extended through said slots, the tally orregistering device comprising a series of recording-disks, and the barsor levers with which said studs are designed to engage, substantially asset forth.

.8. The combination, with the box or casing having slots therein, of thebin or measure having studs extended through said slots, the tally orregistering device comprising a series of recording-disks havingratchet-wheels, the bars or levers secured on the shaft of the first oneof said disks and having pins or studs engaging the ratchet-wheelthereof, and the springs bearing on said bars or levers, substantiallyas set fort-h.

9. The combination, with the box or casing having slots therein, of thebin or measure having studs, the tally or registering device comprisinga series of recording-disks having ratchet-wheels, the pivoted bars orlevers having yielding pins or studs engaging the ratchet-wheel of oneof said disks, and the springs connected to said pins or studs and tosaid bars or levers, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the box or casing having hooks on its lowerends, of the rods designed to close down on said hooks to hold a bagthereon and the bent pivoted arms for 30 holding said rods,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with a thrasher having a semicircular rod, of theframe or support loosely secured thereto at its lower end, theadjustable rod attached to the upper end of said frame or support, thebins or measures, and the elevator in said frame or support,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HALLAHAN.

Witnesses:

JAMES PLAIsTER, ALEX. SIMPLoT.

